Bait Boat ONLY Carp Fishing - Creedence Fishery Review
The One More Cast Team recently took a trip to Essex to visit a rather unique booking-only carp fishing venue - Creedence Fishery. A lake that rather uniquely bans anglers from casting. Read on to see our full review and how we approached the fishing...
Carp fishing has changed a lot over the years, with an increasing demand for big fish and comfortable surroundings to fish for them in. With this in mind and due to the rising popularity of the sport, many venues are turning over to a booking-only approach to ensure anglers are guaranteed a good spot to fish from. Creedence Fishery in Essex, is no different.
With casting banned, Bait Boats are the only option - you would need a very long Baiting Pole to reach some of the prime feeding areas. A large rope splits the lake in half and is used to keep the many aerators in position. It is quite the obstacle, which further adds weight to the casting ban argument.
There are several poles dotted around the lake with lights and bells attached. These feed stations are where the carp usually get fed and are a prime location for anglers to send their Boats. Your heart starts racing a little when these bells start ringing and poles start lighting up! Don't, however, think that is the only area you should be dropping your Rigs. The rope, tree and reeds are also good areas that see less pressure due to the attention the poles get. Clean spots can also be found out in the middle of the pond by those willing to do a little bit of driving around with the Echo Sounder. The 'Triangle' is an area we spotted consistent shows throughout our visit.
There is a healthy stock of very big carp in this lake, so you can certainly expect bites, but don't come thinking it will be a walk over - it's anything but! There are at least six 40lb-plus carp swimming around in Creedence, with new fish stocked regularly. Add that to around 40 different 30lb-plus fish and a good head off backup twenties - impressive right? These fish, however, see regular angling pressure and know every trick in the book. Even with casting banned, they are easily spooked by lines and obvious fishing traps.
Being a little different will certainly help you get more bites when visiting Creedence. OMC Team Member Grant Hilton regularly fishes the venue and recommends always tipping your Hookbaits with maggots and popping your baits up. Spinners tied with the Ronnie Boys and Hinges tied with our Chods Away and Kickback Linkz have both been proven winners, as are pink Hookbaits. Whilst the Magic Twig is banned at the venue, the Magic Wand is permitted and can be a real game-changer when it comes to hooking these sometimes cautious fish.
On our visit, Grant found success fishing towards the pontoon with maggots and boilies. OMC Founder Ali Hamidi on the other hand, caught down his right hand margin at the opposite end of the lake, using a mix of OMC Boilie Crumb, Pellets and Chopped Worms. Both fish fell to Spinners, with Grant's popped up and Ali's fished wafter-style. One thing to watch out for with the natural baits is the large number of perch (some very big) that are in this lake - they like playing with your baits a lot!
Overall, the Team thoroughly enjoyed their visit to Creedence, the staff and owner here are fantastic and really do just want you to catch in complete comfort. The fish are spectacular, the surroundings are unique and the experience is pure convenience. Won't be too long until we are back!
CREEDENCE FACTFILE
Lake Size: 2 Acres
Stock: Carp to 47lb (Huge head of 40+ over 30lb)
Facilities: Luxury Heated Cabins with Wi-Fi and Sky TV, Toilets, Nets, Mats & Slings provided
Ticket Type: Booking only
More Info: https://www.creedencefishery.co.uk/
Journalist Chris Haydon joined the OMC Family in the spring of 2024, after six years working for the UK's number 1 fishing publication, the Angling Times. He is a keen Coarse and Carp Fishing All-rounder, fishing in the South West region, including the famous Cotswold Water Park.
